Emergency descent apparatus

ABSTRACT

A device useful for descending from an elevated location along a strand of webbing or similar material is disclosed, which includes a housing containing a tortuous path through which the strand is drawn as the housing moves downward on the strand. Means for controlling the rate of descent are included, and a novel handle arrangement permits immediate reuse of the device without having to draw the strand back through the housing.

United States Patent [191 Ledner Mar. 26, 1974- EMERGENCY DESCENTAPPARATUS [76] Inventor: Albert c. Ledner, 5328 Bellaire, prlmayBummer-36mm New Orleans, La 70124 Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm--J. GibsonSemmes [22] Filed: Mar. 23, 1973 Appl. No.: 344,436

[52] US. Cl. 182/5, 188/654 [51] Int. Cl. B65h 59/14, A62b 1/14 [58]Field of Search 182/5, 6, 7; 188/654, 188/655, 65.2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,497,534 6/1924 Bass188/654 1,498,048 6/1924 Lee 188/652 [57] ABSTRACT A device useful fordescending from an elevated location along a strand of webbing orsimilar material is disclosed, which includes a housing containing atortuous path through which the strand is drawn as the housing movesdownward on the strand. Means for controlling the rate of descent areincluded, and a novel handle arrangement permits immediate reuse of thedevice without having to draw the strand back through the housing. 1

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures DAIEMEBMARZS 1574 3 799287 sum 1 or 2EMERGENCY DESCENT APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to emergency escape devices, particularly those permittingdescent from dangerous locations such as burning buildings by means ofapparatus which will descend a strand of webbing or similar materialunder the control of the escaping person or objects.

Such devices have been known, U.S. Pat. No. 300,090 to Larson et al,shows an early device in which a strand of rope is directed through atortuous path housing and the rate of descent along the rope iscontrolled by cam levers which may be actuated by the ecaping person orby persons on the ground or in the adjacent building. U.S. Pat. No.722,713 to Johnson shows another device which permits the operator todescend along a strand while controlling his speed with a pair of ropegripping jaws. U.S. Pat. No. 812,950 to Price shows yet another tortuouspath escape device with a friction brake which permits control of thespeed in only one direction along the strand.

U.S. Pat. No. 933,685 to Wray illustrates an escape system which permitsmovement in either direction along the strand and includes separatefriction brakes for control of movement in the opposing directions. U.S.Pat. No. 1,059,754 to Paquet depicts yet another tortuous path fireescape in which the strand is directed along a helical path through thehousing and may be engaged by the operator with hand operated frictionbrakes which control the rate of descent in either direction. U.S. Pat.No. 2,544,964 to Phelan discloses a fire escape apparatus in which thestrand is directed around a stationary sheave, through a pair of brakingdevices for controlling the rate of movement in one direction along thestrand.

Numerous problems have been experienced with devices such as the above,For example, an escaping person is required to actuate the speed controldevices using levers separate from the grips on which he would normallysteady himself during his descent. This reduces the safety of suchdevices. Also, the effectiveness of the speed controls in most instancesdepends upon the strength of the escaping person who applies thecontrol. This has the obvious disadvantage of making the device uselessfor weak or frightened users who might not have sufficient strength tooperate the device properly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A strand of webbing, rope or similar materialis directed through a tortuous path within a housing. The strand is sodirected that a plurality of portions of the moving strand are arrangedto move in approximately parallel paths in close proximity to each otherbut in alternately opposite directions. Strand braking means, actuablefrom outside the housing are provided to selectively prevent movement ofthe strand in one or the other direction through the housing. When thebraking means are actuated, the neighboring portions of the movingstrand are automatically driven into contact with each other under theaction of the brake, which increases braking efficiency. A handle ispivoted about the housing and includes easily moveable means foractuating the brake within the housing. When the housing has moved toone end of the strand after a descent, the

handle may be swung over to the other side to ready the v device forimmediate reuse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENTS There follows a detailed description of the invention,reference being had to the drawings, in which like reference numeralsdesignate like elements of structure in each of the several FIGURES.

FIG. 1 showsa plan view of the invention, partially in section. Anessentially rectangular housing 10 of suitable material such as aluminumor high impact resistance plastic includes side wall openings 12 and 14to permit movement of a strand 16 of webbing, rope or similar materialthrough the tortuous path resistance 18 and braking mechanisms 20 and 22located therein. Also included in housing 10 are side wall openings 24and 26 for attachment of combined handle and brake actuating mechanism28.

The strand of webbing or similar material is threaded through opening12, under roller 30, over roller 32 and under pins 34 and 36. It thenpasses over and around pin 38 and reverses direction back along itselfand under pin 40 to pass over and around roller 42. From there itreverses direction again back along itself and over pin 44 located belowpin 40 to pass over and around pin 46, located below pin 38. The strandreverses direction a third time to pass over pins 48 and 50, locatedbelow pins 34 and 36, around roller 52, over roller 54 and out throughopening 14. This unique tortuous path resistance 18 provides closelyspaced, essentially parallel paths which permit the housing to movealong the strand at a reasonable rate of speed when weight is appliedvia handle 28.

Located above and below the tortuous path resistance 18 areautomatically acting braking mechanisms 20 and 22 which may bedeactivated by the user to control movement of the housing along thestrand in either direction. Opposite handed brake levers 56 and 58 aresecured to housing 10 by pivot posts 60 and 62. With the apparatusarranged vertically as shown in the FIG- URE, levers 56 and 58 areessentially balanced to maintain attached braking shoe plates 64 and 66in light contact with the outermost strands of webbing in resistance 18.If desired, the braking levers may also be biased to maintain suchcontact to ensure proper actuation of the brake and permit use of theapparatus in other orientations, as will be discussed subsequently. Tounderstand the automatic function of the brake levers, consider thatweight is placed on handle 28 so as to tend to move housing 10 alongstrand l6 and cause strand 16 to move through the housing from opening14 to opening 12. Braking shoe plate 66 is mounted on lever 58 at anangle so that it leads in the direction of movement of the strand 16 inthis example. Once enough weight is applied to handle 28 to overcome thefriction of resistance 18, the strand 16 will begin to move; however,since shoe plate 66 is angled into contact with strand 16, it will becaught by the strand causing lever 58 to rotate clockwise about pivotpost 62 to the position shown in the dotted lines. The more strand 16moves due to applied weight, the further will lever 58 be rotated by thecombined effects of the shoe plate 66 and the strand 16. Thus, thebraking effect increases as more weight is applied by increasing thefriction between shoe plate 66 and strand 16 and by displacing theessentially parallel oppositely moving strands in resistance 18 intocontact one another. Opposite handed brake lever 56 and shoe plate 64provide no resistance to movement of the strand 16 in this direction,but function identically to brake lever 58 and shoe plate 66 when thestrand is moved through the housing in the opposite direction. Ifdesired, the ends 65 and 67 of brake shoe plates 64 and 66 may beroughened or textured to increase the friction with strand 16; however,increased wear of the strand will be experienced. Pins 36 and 48ultimately serve as stops for levers 56 and 58.

Attached to elongated extensions 68 and 70 of brake levers 56 and 58 arebrake release links 72 and 74, using suitable pins 76 and 78. Pin 80joins the opposite ends of links 72 and 74. Stretched between pin 80 andpin 82 is biasing spring 84 which serves to bias the brake shoe platesinto contact with strand 16 to ensure the automatic operation of thebrakes as discussed above. Spring 84 also returns the brake levers totheir balanced, engaged position after the escaping person reactivatesthe brakes using handle 28.

Also attached to pin 80 is brake deactivating cable 86 which passesthrough motion stops 88 and 90 before reaching pivot hinge 92 located inopening 26. Motion stop 80 includes tapered bore 94 to facilitatemovement of cable 86 to the dotted line position during the automaticactuation of brake lever 58. Secured to cable 86 is stop element 96which prevents movement of cable 86 beyond motion stop 88 under theinfluence of spring 84, which could result in the inadvertent locking ofthe brake actuating mechanism in the on position due to excessivemovement of links 72 and 74. Stop element 96 also prevents movement ofthe cable beyond motion stop 90 under the influence of the operator,which could result in the inadvertent locking of the brake deactuatingmechanism in the of position.

Cable 86 passes through bore 98 of pivot hinge 92 to the'exterior ofhousing 10. Pivot hinge 92 includes tapered bore insert 100 whichfacilitates movement of cable 86 as handle 28 is rotated about housing10. Opposite pivot hinge 92 on housing is pivot hinge 102. Dependingfrom the hinges are arms 104 and 106 which connect to handle 28. Handle28 comprises an inner tubular portion 108, to which arms 104 and 106 areattached using bolt 110 and suitable fasteners 112 and 114. If desired,tubular portion 108 may be a solid piece of suitable material or may befilled with impact resistant plastic for greater rigidity. Surroundingtubular portion 108 are gripping tubes 116 and 118, which include slots120 and 122 for arms 104 and 106. Tube 116 is stationary relative totubular portion 108 and carries reinforcing ring 124 and eyebolt 126near the center of handle 28. A seat or sling may be attached to eyebolt126 for the use of the escaping person, or the person may simply hangfrom the handle 28 during descent.

Gripping tube 118 is rotatable relative to tubular portion 108 and hasaffixed thereto the end of cable 86, as

at 120. To permit brake deactuation via cable 86 and gripping tube 1 18,slot 122 is extended part way around the circumference of tube 118 toallow rotation of the tube which pulls the cable and deactuates thebrakes. Arm 106 may include a cable guard 128, if desired, to preventfouling of cable 86 in use.

An adjustable control over the rate at which the strand 16 moves throughhousing 10 may be provided by adjustable resistance elements 130 and132. Outer telescopic members 134 and 136 are affixed to motion stop 90by pins 138 and 140. Located within members 134 and 136 are plungers 142and 144, which carry braking plates 146 and 148 on their outer ends andare movably disposed in guide members 150 and 152. Selectively movableadjustment flanges 154 and 156 are mounted on the exterior of members134 and 136 using suitable fasteners such as set screws 158 and 160.Flanges 162 and 164 are mounted on plungers 142 and 144. Betweenadjustment flanges 154 and 156 and flanges 162 and 164 are disposedsprings 166 and 168 which act to force braking plates 146 and 148 intocontact withstrand 16. By moving adjustment flanges 154 and 156, thecompression of springs 166 and 168 may be changed, thereby providingmore or less resistance to the movement of strand l6 and controlling therate of descent. If desired, the contact surfaces of braking plates 146and 148 may be roughened or textured to provide additional resistance;however, this increases the wear on the strand material considerably.

FIG. 2 shows a side elevational view, partially in section, taken alongline 22 of FIG. 1. The rotating mounting of roller 54 and the stationarymount of pin 36 are shown. If desired to provide more or less frictionin the toruous path resistance 18, various of the rollers may be madestationary pins or the pins may be made rotating rollers, withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view in section of an alternate embodiment of thecombination. handle and brake deactuating mechanism 28. Handle 28comprises a tubular portion 170 which is attached to arms 104 and 106 byrings 172 and 174 and suitable fasteners. Located within tubular portion170 is cable tensioning lever 176, mounted for rotation about pivot post178. Lever 176 has an extension 180 on one end which extends throughopening 182 in tubular portion 170 to a position where it may be easilyactuated by the thumb of the escaping person as he grips the handle.Cable 86 extends through a bore 184 in ring 174 and tubular portion 170and is attached to the other end of lever 176 using fastener 186. Asextension 180 is depressed, cable 86 is drawn downward, therebydeactuating the braking mechanisms in housing 10, as previouslydiscussed.

Woven webbing such as shown in the drawings has been discovered to be asuperior strand material for use with the invention due to itscombination of large friction contact area, great flexibility andstrength; however, it will be appreciated that other materials such asrope or thin cable could be used without departing from the spirit ofthis invention.

In use, one end of the strand of webbing is affixed to a high point inthe structure from which escape is to be made. The escaping person thengrasps the handle and places his weight against the friction of thetortuous path resistance and adjustable resistance elements, by hangingfrom the handle or sitting in an appropriate device attached to thehandle. Movement down the strand will start when the brake is releasedusing the release mechanism located in the handle, and may bediscontinued by untwisting or releasing the release mechanism/When theescaping person has reached safety, the strand will have been drawnthrough the housing, at which time the handle may be flipped over to theother side, thus readying the inventive apparatus for immediate reuse.For returning the device to the elevated point of danger, the nextescaping person need only drawn it back up using the webbing and changethe end of the webbing attached to the high point in the structure.

Having described my invention in such clear and complete detail as toenable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use it, I claim:

1. A device useful for emergency descent, comprising:

A. a housing having openings therein;

B. a flexible strand passing through the openings of the housing;

C. means located within the housing for directing the strand through atortuous path thereby to provide resistance to movement of the strandthrough the housing;

D. means located within the housing in coactive relationship to thestrand and responsive to movement of the strand for preventing movementof the strand through the housing by displacing portions of the strandinto contact with one another within the tortuous resistance path; and

E. selectively actuable means for deactuating the means for preventingmovement of the strand.

2. A device useful for emergency descent, comprising:

A. a housing having openings therein;

B. a flexible strand passing through the openings of the housing;

C. means located within the housing for directing the strand through atortuous path thereby to provide resistance to movement of the strandthrough the housing;

D. means located within the housing in coactive relationship to thestrand and responsive to movement of the strand for preventing movementof the strand through the housing;

E. selectively actuable means for deactuating the means for preventingmovement of the strand; and

F. means located within the housing for selectively adjusting the rateof speed with which the strand moves through the housing when the meansfor preventing movement of the strand has been deactuated.

3. A device useful for emergency descent, compris ing:

A. a housing having openings therein;

I B. a flexible strand passing through the openings of the housing;

C. means located within the housing for directing the strand through atortuous path thereby to provide resistance to movement of the strandthrough the housing;

D. means located within the housing in coactive relationship to thestrand and responsive to movement of the strand for preventing movementof the strand through the housing; and

LII

E. selectively actuable means for deactuating the means for preventingmovement of the strand, comprising:

a cable operatively engaged with the means for preventing movement ofthe strand to remove it from contact with the strand;

an opening in the housing for the cable;

a gripping handle;

means attached to the housing for permitting the gripping handle toswing from one side of the housing to the other after the strand hasmoved therethrough; and

means attached to the gripping handle for pulling the cable to deactuatethe means for preventing movement of the strand.

4. A device useful for emergency descent comprising:

A. a housing having openings therein;

B. a flexible strand passing through the openings of the housing;

C. tortuous path means for causing the strand to move in opposite'directions in closely adjacent paths as it passes through the housing,thereby to provide resistance to movement of the strand through thehousing;

D. means located within the housing in coactive relationship to thestrand and'responsive to movement of the strand for causing portionsofthe strand in the closely adjacent paths to contact one another, therebyproviding resistance to movement of the strand; and

E. selectively actuable means for deactuating the means for causingportions of the strand to contact one another.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the means for causing the strand tomove in opposite directions comprises:

Cla. a first pair of laterally spaced pins attached to the housingbeneath which the strand is threaded;

Clb. a second pair of laterally spaced pins attached to the housingbelow and spaced outwardly of the first pair, over and around the firstof which and beneath the second of which the strand is threaded;

Clc. a pin attached to the housing around which the strand is threaded;

Cld. a third pair of laterally spaced pins attached to the housing overthe first of which and over and around the second of which the strand isthreaded; and a fourth pair of laterally spaced pins attached to thehousing over which the strand is threaded.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the means for causing portions ofthe strand to contact one another comprises:

Dla. first and second brake levers;

Dlb. pivot means for mounting the levers adjacent the closely adjacentpaths;

Dlc. a first brake shoe plate mounted on the first brake lever andcontacting the strand at angle lead ing in one direction of motion ofthe adjacent strand through the housing; and

Dld. a second brake shoe plate mounted on the second brake lever andcontacting the strand at an angle leading in the opposite direction ofmotion of the adjacent strand through the housing,

whereby as the strand moves through the housing in either direction, therespective brake shoe plates will be caught by the strand and the leversrotated to force the shoes into braking contact with the strand and toforce the portions of the strand in the closely adjacent plates tocontact each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further including: Dle. resilient means forbiasing the respective brake shoe plates into contact with the strand.8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the selectively actuabledeactuating means comprises:

El. first and second brake release links each having a first end joinedrespectively to the first and second brake levers and each link having asecond end, the second end of the first link being pivotally

1. A device useful for emergency descent, comprising: A. a housinghaving openings therein; B. a flexible strand passing through theopenings of the housing; C. means located within the housing fordirecting the strand through a tortuous path thereby to provideresistance to movement of the strand through the housing; D. meanslocated within the housing in coactive relationship to the strand andresponsive to movement of the strand for preventing movement of thestrand through the housing by displacing portions of the strand intocontact with one another within the tortuous resistance path; and E.selectively actuable means for deactuating the means for preventingmovement of the strand.
 2. A device useful for emergency descent,comprising: A. a housing having openings therein; B. a flexible strandpassing through the openings of the housing; C. means located within thehousing for directing the strand through a tortuous path thereby toprovide resistance to movement of the strand through the housing; D.means located within the housing in coactive relationship to the strandand responsive to movement of the strand for preventing movement of thestrand through the housing; E. selectively actuable means fordeactuating the means for preventing movement of the strand; and F.means located within the housing for selectively adjusting the rate ofspeed with which the strand moves through the housing when the means forpreventing movement of the strand has been deactuated.
 3. A deviceuseful for emergency descent, comprising: A. a housing having openingstherein; B. a flexible strand passing through the openings of thehousing; C. means located within the housing for directing the strandthrough a tortuous path thereby to provide resistance to movement of thestrand through the housing; D. means located within the housing incoactive relationship to the strand and responsive to movement of thestrand for preventing movement of the strand through the housing; and E.selectively actuable means for deactuating the means for preventingmovement of the strand, comprising: a cable operatively engaged with themeans for preventing movement of the strand to remove it from contactwith the strand; an opening in the housing for the cable; a grippinghandle; means attached to the housing for permitting the gripping handleto swing from one side of the housing to the other after the strand hasmoved therethrough; and means attached to the gripping handle forpulling the cable to deactuate the means for preventing movement of thestrand.
 4. A device useful for emergency descent comprising: A. ahousing having openings therein; B. a flexible strand passing throughthe openings of the housing; C. tortuous path means for causing thestrand to move in opposite directions in closely adjacent paths as itpasses through the housing, thereby to provide resistance to movement ofthe strand through the housing; D. means located within the housing incoactive relationship to the strand and responsive to movement of thestrand for causing portions of the strand in the closely adjacent pathsto contact one another, thereby providing resistance to movement of thestrand; and E. selectively actuable means for deactuating the means forcausing portions of the strand to contact one another.
 5. The apparatusof claim 4, wherein the means for causing the strand to move in oppositedirections comprises: C1a. a first pair of laterally spaced pinsattached to the housing beneath which the strand is threaded; C1b. asecond pair of laterally spaced pins attached to the housing below andspaced outwardly of the first pair, over and around the first of whichand beneath the second of which the strand is threaded; C1c. a pinattached to the housing around which the strand is threaded; C1d. athird pair of laterally spaced pins attached to the housing over thefirst of which and over and around the second of which the strand isthreaded; and a fourth pair of laterally spaced pins attached to thehousing over which the strand is threaded.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4wherein the means for causing portions of the strand to contact oneanother comprises: D1a. first and second brake levers; D1b. pivot meansfor mounting the levers adjacent the closely adjacent paths; D1c. afirst brake shoe plate mounted on the first brake lever and contactingthe strand at angle leading in one direction of motion of the adjacentstrand through the housing; and D1d. a second brake shoe plate mountedon the second brake lever and contacting the strand at an angle leadingin the opposite direction of motion of the adjacent strand through thehousing, whereby as the strand moves through The housing in eitherdirection, the respective brake shoe plates will be caught by the strandand the levers rotated to force the shoes into braking contact with thestrand and to force the portions of the strand in the closely adjacentplates to contact each other.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, furtherincluding: D1e. resilient means for biasing the respective brake shoeplates into contact with the strand.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6,wherein the selectively actuable deactuating means comprises: E1. firstand second brake release links each having a first end joinedrespectively to the first and second brake levers and each link having asecond end, the second end of the first link being pivotally joined tothe second end of the second link; E2. resilient means for biasing therespective brake shoe plates into contact with the strand; and E3. cablemeans pivotally joined to the second ends of the brake release links formoving the brake shoe plates from contact with the strand.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 4, further including roller means for guiding thestrand into and out of the means for causing the strand to move inopposite directions in closely adjacent paths.